Kelsey Grammer

Stars

Kelsey Grammer will be forever linked with a single television character that he so vividly brought to life — the garrulous, self-absorbed but somehow likable psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane of the long-running sitcom "Cheers." He proved so irresistible to viewers that NBC spun off a second show, "Frasier," that afforded Grammer an even bigger spotlight.

By playing the role of Frasier for 20 years, the square-faced, haughty-looking Grammer tied a record for longevity held by James Arness of "Gunsmoke" fame.

Born in Saint Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, in 1955, Grammer moved to New Jersey with his mother when his parents divorced and later enrolled at the Juilliard School of Drama. He debuted on Broadway in 1981, in "Macbeth." A former Juilliard classmate, Broadway star Mandy Patinkin, later recommended Grammer for the career-changing role of Frasier.

Grammer's personal life has been marred by tragedy and upheaval. While he was 13, he lost his father, who was killed at his home in the Virgin Islands. In 1975, Grammer's sister was abducted, raped and murdered in Colorado Springs, Colo. In 1980, his twin half-brothers were killed by sharks while scuba diving.

After two failed marriages and a legal battle over a sex tape, Grammer has been married since 1997 to former model Camille Donatacci. In 2008, he suffered a heart attack and blamed it on the cancellation of his sitcom, "Back to You."

With his smooth, deep voice, Grammer has been sought after for voice-over work, performing as Sideshow Bob on "The Simpsons" and in animated movies such as "Anastasia" and "Toy Story 2."